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Inova acknowledged today a $50 million gift from developer and philanthropist Dwight Schar launching the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute. The center will anchor the new Inova Center for Personalized Health recently established in Fairfax, providing a platform for the development and application of advances in cancer treatment and personalized medicine through genomics.

“This transformational gift is not only the largest in Inova’s history, but also the largest gift given to a healthcare organization in Virginia,” observed Governor Terry McAuliffe. “The application and commercialization of the advanced sciences at the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute will play a strategic role in building Virginia’s new economy that integrates local and state governments, academic medical centers like Inova, and Virginia’s great research universities with private enterprise. I commend Dwight for his vision, leadership and generosity.”

In addition, internationally renowned cancer physician and researcher Donald “Skip” Trump, MD, was named the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute CEO & Executive Director as announced by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. “As one of the world’s preeminent researchers on rare cancers and treatments, we’re extremely honored to bring Dr. Trump’s incredible talent to the Commonwealth,” said Kaine. “Dr. Trump is uniquely qualified to develop new practice tools with his combined expertise in genomic-based research and innovative technology to better understand cancer.”

“This initiative is an example of how the public and private sectors can work together to improve the lives and health of Virginians and others here in the national capital region,” said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner. “This vital cancer and genomic research, the academic collaboration, the creation of individualized therapies and the commercialization of translational research will combine to improve health outcomes while also strengthening Northern Virginia’s growing reputation for world class research.”

Knox Singleton, CEO of Inova commented, “Inova’s approach to personalized cancer care is both unique and revolutionary. Here at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, we are developing an unparalleled approach building a team of world-renowned physicians and researchers, genomic resources like one of the largest genomic databases and bioinformatics firepower as well as the support and leadership of Governor McAuliffe and Dwight Schar. Together, we are forging that public/private partnership critical to transforming healthcare.”